Mail retrieving device



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 N '1' S A 2 W mm R k 3 Y n m 0: m n A... m N T Om LW L. KORNGOLD ETAL MAIL RETRIEVING DEVICE Dec. 10, 1968 Filed on. 17, 1966 3 H. L 5 a 8 om \w. 0 o H X mm w L. KORNGOLD ETAL 3,414,932

Dec. 10,1968

MAIL RETRIEVING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1966 INVENJTORS. LEON KORNGOLD WALTER H. BACHMAN KM 1. W

AOVW

ATTOR N EY.

0, 1968 L- KORNGOLD ETAL.

MAIL RETRIEVING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 17, 1966 INVENTORS.

M DH LC 0A GB N H R KE i m E LW M ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,414,932 MAIL RETRIEVING DEVICE Leon Korngold and Walter H. Bachman, Phiiadelphia,

Pa., assignors to General Bag & Burlap Company,

Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 587,187 12 Claims. (Cl. 15-304) This invention relates to the general field of fabric bag cleaning and bag inspection and more particularly is directed to the class of devices utilizing suction air for cleaning purposes.

At the present time, post office departments in most countries throughout the world employ fabric mail bags fabricated from canvas or similar material to transport mail from one location to another. It is common practice to utilize such mail bags both within the confines of the post office building itself and in various locations such as in stores and in office buildings throughout the area served. These canvas bags are popular from the standpoint of ease in handling and because of their flexibility and relatively long life and initial low cost.

Mail bags of the type described present one major problem however, in that extreme care must be exercised to insure that no pieces of mail remain in the bottom or trapped in the folds of the bag when the bag is emptied. In as much as canvas and similar fabrics are not transparent, present insepctional methods cannot be conducted from the outside of the bag. It is now common practice to visually individually inspect the interior of each mail bag immediately upon the termination of each period of use. Such inspections vary from merely peering into the bottom of the bag through the open top to completely turning the bag inside out and shaking vigorously to free any entrapped envelopes or cards. The present methods are generally effective but by no means one hundred percent sure. Indeed, numerous instances have been reported wherein single letters have remained undelivered over extended periods of time. Further, the present methods of inspection are time consuming and therefore expensive because of the manual operations involved. The instant invention seeks to provide automatic machine to overcome all of the faults inherent in the present methods of operation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved device of the type set forth.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mail retrieving device designed to automatically recover pieces of mail that may become stranded within a fabric mail bag.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mail retrieving device incorporating construction that simultaneously recovers entrapped letters from within canvas mail bag and also cleans both the interior and exterior surfaces of the said bag.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mail retrieving device capable of continuous, automatic and rapid operation with flexible fabric containers.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mail retrieving device incorporating means to automatically and rapidly remove and stack canvas mail bags upon completion of the mail retrieving operations.

, It is another object of this invention to provide a mail retrieving device featuring automatic bag clamping and bag handling means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device designed to retrieve mail by vacuum from empty bags.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine to clean the internal and external surfaces of mail bags by vacuum without introducing any dust to the surrounding environment.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide 3,414,932 Patented Dec. 10, 1968 ice a bag cleaning device that is capable of processing mail bags fed at random; by size, without changing holding devices.

It is another object of this invention to provide a bag cleaning device capable of depositing bags into stacks upon completion of the cleaning operations.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mail retrieving device that is rugged in construction, automatic in operation and trouble free in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reefrence characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side elevational view showing the movable parts.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along Line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the bag securing components.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial detailed plan view of the finger frame with the fingers in closed position.

FIG. 6 is a partial detail view of the mail returning area, portions of which are cut away to expose the internal construction.

FIG. 7 is a partial top plan view of the bag retaining clamps in closed position.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial top plan view of the finger frame with the fingers in open position.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow diagram of the operation of the various parts during the cleaning cycle.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of our invention selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1 it will be seen that the device comprises essentially an upper exhaust direct system 10 leading from an upper sheet metal nozzle 12 and a lower exhaust duct system 14 leading from a lower nozzle 16. The duct systems 10, 14 interconnect at the junction 18 and jointly terminate at the suction intake of an exhaust fan 54 in a conventional manner. The lower nozzle 16 moves vertically in relation to the upper nozzle 12 in a reciprocating motion to facilitate the bag cleaning operations as will hereinafter be more fully described.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the right and left bag holding arms 22, 24 pivotally extend from a structural extension 26 which may be welded or otherwise secured to the machine supporting from 28. Pivot pins, 30, 32 respectively permit pivotal action of the arms 22, 24 about the structural extensions 26. The outboard ends of the arms 22, 24 terminate in right and left bag clamps 34, 36 which are oval shaped to conform to the configuration of the fixed nozzle ring 20. If desired, the nozzle ring may be integrally formed with the lower opening of the upper nozzle 12. Inserts 38, 40 of the rubber or similar resilient material on the inside of the clamps 34, 36 facilitate clamping a mail bag 56 between the nozzle 20 and the clamps 34, 36 in a slipproof engagement during the cleaning and mail retrieving operations. A helical spring 42 biases between lugs 45, 47 which respectively extend above the arms 22, 24 intermediate the ends to continuously exert forces which tend to pull the arms 22, 24 together. A double acting cylinder 44 of the pneumatic or hydraulic type controls the opposed piston arms 50, 52, the outer ends of a pair of opposed, fixed tapered, engaging fingers 74, 76 extending beyond cross member 78 a distance sufiicient to engage a mail bag 56 upon completion of the cleaning and mail retrieving operations. A pair of movable clamping fingers 80-82 superimposed over the fixed fingers 74, 76 and are pivotal thereon about the respective pivot pins 84, 86 extended rearwardly of the pivot pins 84, 86 to form operating cranks 88, 90 to respectively pivotally receive one end of the operating rods 92, 94. The second ends of the rods 92, 94 terminate in operating connections at a crosshead 96. A hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 98 aflixed to the top of the carriage 58 pushes or pulls the crosshead 96 in any well known manner to operate the movable fingers 8082 in response to a planned sequence of operation hereinafter more fully described. The fingers 80, 82 are shown in half open position in FIG. 4 for purposes of illustration and in closed position in FIG. 5.

The mail retrieving apparatus can best be seen by referring to FIGS. 1 and 6 wherein a mail stopping screen 100 is shown vertically disposed across the entire upper suction duct 10 at right angles to the direction of flow of the airstream. An opening 102 is provided in the bottom of the duct 10 beneath the screen 100 and is designed of sufiicient dimensions to permit ready passage of any retrieved mail. A drop leg 104 encloses the opening 100 and may be fabricated of the same material as the duct. The drop leg 104 terminates downwardly in a horizontal platform 108 which can be equipped with an inspection opening 106 which may be covered or uncovered as desired. If the opening 106 is uncovered, the drop leg 104 should be of a length sufiicient to offer adequate resistance to air flow so as not to interfere with the normal operation of the suction air system. If the opening is covered, we propose to use clear plastic material as the preferred embodiment.

The lower nozzle 16 vertically reciprocates to permit operational clearance for the start of the cleaning cycle. A pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 110 may be employed in the usual manner to urge the nozzle 16 from its lowermost position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 to its uppermost position as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The lower end of the nozzle 16 telescopes into the lower suction duct 14 when in its lowermost position in any well-known substantially airtight manner.

In order to use our invention, the initial position of all parts must first be established. This would include lowering the lower nozzle 16 to the position of FIG. 1, opening the bag holding arms 22, 24 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, retracting the carriage 58 to the position shown in FIG. 2, opening the upper duct air valve 112 and closing the lower duct air valve 114 as shown in FIG. 1 and opening the movable fingers S0, 82 to the position shown in FIG. 8. With all operating parts in their initial positions, the sequence of operations may readily be followed by referring to the operation diagram, FIG. 9.

The operator firse places the open end of the usual canvas mail bag over the fixed nozzle 20 and depresses a switch (not shown), which may be foot operated, to operate the cylinder 44 to permit the spring 42, to bias the arms 22, 24 toward each other thereby securing the open end of the bag 56 against the exterior surface of the ring 20. Switches (not shown) may be automatically tripped by the closing of the arms 22, 24 in a well-known manner to activate the air duct valves 112, 114 simultaneously so as to open the upper duct switch 112 and to close the lower duct switch 114. In this manner, the suction forces of the fan 54 are directed to the upper nozzle 12 causing the mail bag 56 to turn inside out and be drawn completely into the nozzle about its clamped top portion. All dirt particles, mail, etc. contained within the bag are thus drawn toward the fan 54 through the upper duct 10. Large pieces such as letters will bind against the screen 100 and be trapped while all small particles will pass through for disposal in the usual manner.

After a predetermined period of time, a switch (not shown) which may be a time clock actuated switch, energizes the cylinder 110 to raise the lower nozzle 16 to its operating position adjacent to the fixed ring 20 as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2. Switches (not shown) which may be tripped by the upward motion of nozzle 16 simultaneously close the upper air valve 112 and open the lower air valve 114. This causes suction air to the fan 54 to travel through only the lower duct system 14 and to energize the lower nozzle 16. At this stage of the operation, it should be noted that any mail removed from the mail bags 56 during the initial cleaning procedures and subsequently caught upon the screen will be automatically released by the return of the upper duct system to atmospheric pressure. All pieces of mail then fall by gravity through the drop leg 104 and will be deposited upon the platform 108 for later pickup through the access opening 106.

With the lower nozzle 16 in its raised position and with suction air being passed by the valve 114, the mail bag 56 will be pulled out of the upper nozzle 12 and will be drawn into the lower nozzle for vacuum cleaning the exterior surfaces of the bag. After a predetermined period of time, a switch (not shown) which may be a time switch operates the cylinder 10 to lower the lower nozzle 16 and the cylinder 66 to push the carriage 58 to its forward position wherein the cross member 78 fully engages the mail bag 56 below the clamps 34, 36. A switch (not shown) which may be tripped by the forward travel of the carriage 58 operates the cylinder 98 which functions to push the movable fingers 80, 82 to their closed positions and thus to engage the bag 56 between the fingers 80, 82 and cross member 78, as shown in FIG. 5. Simultaneously, a switch (not shown) operates the cylinder 44 to push the clamps 34, 36 apart so that the bag is held only by the pinching action of the movable fingers and the cross member 78. A switch (not shown) which may be cam operated, controls the cylinder 66 to pull the carriage 58 to its rearward position, carrying the cleaned mail bag with it. A switch (not shown) which may be tripped by the rearward travel of the carriage 58 operates the cylinder 98 to open the movable fingers 80, 82 and thus release the cleaned bag 56 in a position removed from the vicinity of the nozzles 12, 16. The operator is then ready to repeat the operation by applying a new bag to the fixed ring 20.

Although we have described our invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereafter claimed.

What is claimed is: 1. In a bag cleaning and mail retrieving apparatus, the combination of:

a supporting structure; a ring afiixed to the said structure, said ring being supported to receive the open end of a flexible bag;

top nozzle means disposed above the said ring, said top nozzle means evacuating air from immediately above the said ring;

bottom nozzle means disposed below the said ring, said bottom nozzle means evacuating air from immediately below the said ring;

bag clamping means afiixed to the said structure, said bag clamping means including a pair of cooperating clamps for releasably securing the mouth of a flexible bag to the said ring; and

bag removing means supported by the said structure,

said bag removing means having reciprocating motion with respect to the said ring; and

exhaust fan means operatively connected to the said top nozzle means and to the Said bottom nozzle means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said exhaust fan means include an exhaust fan, a duct leading from the outlet of the said top nozzle means to the suction intake of the said fan and a duct leading from the outlet of the said bottom nozzle means to the suction intake of the said fan and mail retrieving means depending from the said duct leading from the top nozzle.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said exhaust fan means include an exhaust fan, a duct leading from the outlet of the said top nozzle means to the suction intake of the said fan and a duct leading from the outlet of the said bottom nozzle means to the suction intake of the said fan and mail retrieving means depending from the said duct leading from the top nozzle, said mail retireving means including a perforated obstruction placed across the main air stream, said perforations being large enough to pass dirt and debris particles and small enough to prevent the passage of pieces of mail.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said exhaust fan means include an exhaust fan, a duct leading from the outlet of the said top nozzle means to the suction intake of the said fan and a duct leading from the outlet of the said bottom nozzle means to the suction intake of the said fan and mail retrieving means depending from the said duct leading from the top nozzle, and air control valves placed in the said ducts to control the fiow of air therethrough, said control valves being respectively positioned between the said top nozzle means and the said exhaust fan and the said bottom nozzle means and the said exhaust fan.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said bottom nozzle means reciprocate vertically with respect to the said top nozzle means.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said cooperating clamps overlie the said fixed ring and said clamps conform to the configuration of the said fixed ring.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said cooperating clamps overlie the said fixed ring and said clamps conform to the configuration of the said fixed ring, and a pair of resilient inserts respectively lining the interior of the said clamps, said inserts serving to further secure the bag to the said ring during the cleaning operations.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said bag removing means include a reciprocating carriage carried upon the said supporting structure.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said bag removing means include a reciprocating carriage carried upon the said supporting structure, and a bifurcated bag engaging frame secured to the said carriage, said frame carrying a pair of fixed fingers and a pair of movable fingers overlying the said fixed fingers and being forwardly disposed in front of a horizontal cross member.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said bag removing means include a reciprocating carriage carried upon the said supporting structure, and a bifurcated bag engaging frame secured to the said carriage, said frame carrying a pair of fixed fingers and a pair of movable fingers overlying the said fixed fingers and being forwardly disposed in front of a horizontal cross member, said movable fingers having rotative motion with respect to the said cross member.

11. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said bag removing means include a reciprocating carriage carried upon the said supporting structure, and bifurcated bag engaging frame secured to the said carriage, said frame carrying a pair of fixed fingers and a pair of movable fingers overlying the said fixed fingers and being forwardly disposed in front of a horizontal cross member, said movable fingers having rotative motion with respect to the said cross member, and the said movable fingers being positioned to lock the said bag against the said cross member when rotated with respect to the said fixed fingers.

12. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said bag removing means include a reciprocating carriage upon the said supporting structure, and a bifurcated bag engaging frame secured to the said carriage, said frame carrying a pair of fixed fingers and a pair of movable fingers overlying the said fixed fingers and being forwardly disposed in front of a horizontal cross member, said movable fingers having rotative motion with respect to the said cross member, and. the said movable fingers being positioned to lock the said bag against the said cross member when rotated with respect to the said fixed fingers, and means to open the said bag clamps when the said movable fingers lock the bag against the said cross member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,398,356 4/1946 Burwick et al 15-304 XR 2,523,607 9/1950 Bagby 223-43 FOREIGN PATENTS 414,466 8/ 1934 Breat Britain.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 22343 

1. IN A BAG CLEANING AND MAIL RETRIEVING APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION OF: A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE; A RING AFFIXED TO THE SAID STRUCTURE, SAID RING BEING SUPPORTED TO RECEIVE THE OPEN END OF A FLEXIBLE BAG; TOP NOZZLE MEANS DISPOSED ABOVE THE SAID RING; SAID TOP NOZZLE MEANS EVACUATING AIR FROM IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE SAID RING BOTTOM NOZZLE MEANS DISPOSED BELOW THE SAID RING; SAID BOTTOM NOZZLE MEANS EVACUATING AIR FROM IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE SAID RING; BAG CLAMPING MEANS AFFIXED TO THE SAID STRUCTURE, SAID BAG CLAMPING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF COOPERATING CLAMPS OR RELEASABLY SECURING THE MOUTH OF A FLEXIBLE BAG TO THE SAID RING; AND BAG REMOVING MEANS SUPPORTED BY THE SAID STRUCTURE, SAID BAG REMOVING MEANS HAVING RECIPROCATING MOTION WITH RESPECT TO THE SAID RING; AND EXHAUST FAN MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE SAID TOP NOZZLE MEANS AND TO THE SAID BOTTOM NOZZLE MEANS. 